What's eating my caladium gingerland?

Caladium Gingerland, with its delicate white-and-green spotted leaves, is most troubled by spider mites indoors and caterpillars when grown outdoors in summer beds. Mealybugs target stem bases and aphids cluster on new growth. The thin ornamental leaves show pest damage — speckling, holes, or yellowing — very rapidly, so weekly checks are essential.

Fine pale stippling and webbing on leaf undersides; the distinctive white spotting may discolour or bronze. Boost humidity, wipe foliage down regularly, and spray neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until clear.

White cottony masses at stem joints; plants become sticky with honeydew and new leaves emerge deformed. Remove with alcohol-dipped cotton swabs; apply neem oil spray and repeat treatments weekly for 3–4 weeks.

Ragged holes chewed through leaf blades when grown outdoors; damage worsens rapidly in warm weather. Hand-pick at dusk; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray to outdoor beds, targeting young caterpillars early in the season.